People in extreme poverty are experts on loss, whether it be their belongings, their privacy, their dignity or anything else “My barn burned, now I can see the moon.” – Mizuta Masahide There are many levels of loss for people on the streets. There is the ...
12 Jul 2019 - Helen Hill
Some Street Roots vendors welcome the added security; others say private guards – who are not police – overstep their bounds Private security guards are ubiquitous these days. They silently survey the public in stores, on sidewalks, in schools, on campuse ...
28 Jun 2019 - Helen Hill
The Street Roots vendor was known for his compassion, his sense of humor and his chess skills; memorials are planned for July Beloved Street Roots vendor John Davis died suddenly of a heart attack on June 10 – not long after his vendor profile was publish ...
21 Jun 2019 - Helen Hill
Nearly every Street Roots vendor who was asked had a story to tell about problems with feet People experiencing extreme poverty and homelessness often suffer from foot problems caused by ill-fitting or worn out shoes, wet shoes, shelter showers shared by ...
14 Jun 2019 - Helen Hill
Through the tough times and the good, Johnny and Stephanie find that life is better together Life on the streets is hard. Some of the hardest living imaginable. So to witness a love that rose from the streets to thrive and deepen over many years, weatheri ...
7 Jun 2019 - Helen Hill
Dan Currin, an emergency department crisis intervention specialist, discusses ERs’ role when psychiatric patients have nowhere else to go For people on the streets suffering from mental health issues, a crisis often means a trip either to jail or to the e ...
24 May 2019 - Helen Hill
Vendors and attorneys partner for “Expungement Palooza" The homeless community has long been the target of police action and prosecution, often creating an insurmountable backlog of tickets and nonviolent misdemeanors that can effectively shut people ...
3 May 2019 - Helen Hill
Street Roots vendors talk about how they cope with illness For those who are housed, feeling the first tinges of a winter cold or flu means settling in on the couch with hot tea and soup, a warm comforter and a list of Netflix movies to watch. Rest, fluid ...
22 Mar 2019 - Helen Hill
Street Roots vendors talk about how they get through Portland winters on the streets As soon as the Street Roots office door is unlocked at 7:30 a.m., vendors – the people who sell the newspaper – quickly duck in, seeking relief from a night of cold wind, ...
15 Feb 2019 - Helen Hill
A periodic column about the parts of homelessness most people don’t talk about There are many aggravations and indignities people living on the streets endure, especially in the winter months. One persistent hazard is insect parasites, specifically body a ...
8 Feb 2019 - Helen Hill